Enhance Proshow

Photodex Proshow Producer or Gold has been around for quite some time and I have enjoyed using it for short presentations. Others in the club adopted one version or another and it is on its way to becoming one of the popular software among PSRI members.

A while ago, I was invited to participate in the beta testing program of Proshow and have learned more about how others use these products. One of the neat features of Proshow is the style packs and other presets offered by Photodex and a group of developers. Using these, one can produce very interesting results, they are certainly worth a look. Below are some links to the available resources where you will find demo shows strutting their techniques and capabilities. The prices are certainly in the affordable range. There is even a forum for Proshow Enthusiasts. Take a look, you may get hooked!

http://www.photodex.com/products/stylepacks
http://www.theframelocker.com
http://seemonasblog.blogspot.com
http://www.fenimorephotovideos.com/PSP/
http://trulytangotemplates.wordpress.com/
http://choicebackgroundsserver.com/
http://www.outsidethebox.name/
http://www.dilyla.com/

http://www.proshowenthusiasts.com/index.php

Lightroom 3 Resources

In case you did not get a chance to explore the available resources elsewhere, here is a short list that will give you a kick-start with the new release of Lightroom.

Kelby | TV offers many interesting photo related programming

Lightroom 3 Training Center from the knowledgeable guys as NAPP

Julieanne Kost on Lightroom also check out her other programs

Lightroom Killer Tips by Mat Klowskowski

Learning Lightroom, various resources provided by Adobe

In addition to plenty of information on Lightroom, you will also find information on Photoshop and other Adobe products at most of the Web sites above.

Photoshop Lightroom 3 is Out

Adobe has released Lightroom 3 which is a major upgrade over version 2. It brings the same highly tuned RAW processing engine, a very capable noise reduction, the same lens correction filter that is in Photoshop CS5, and many more new features. Learn more about Lightroom 3 and download a 30 day free trial to see it first hand.

Upon start, Lightroom 3 wants to upgrade your older catalog. This may be a bit nerve wracking, but the program seems to make a copy of the LR 2 catalog leaving the old one intact. That said, I will suggest making a backup of your old catalog and previews if you want to be on the safe side.

Free Software

One of the leading add-on software makers, onOne Software, has made some of their products available at no charge. If you want to download a copy of these, which have fewer presets than the paid versions, point your browser to onOne Software Web site page. The price is right!

Photoshop CS5 Unveiled Today

Adobe will take the wraps off the CS5 series of products today, in fact in less than 3 hours as I write this post. If you want to watch the unveiling live online go register for the event and stay tuned!

Adobe CS5 Countdown Timer

Photoshop CS5 processed photographs

Adobe allowed, even encouraged the beta testers to post images created/processed using Photoshop CS5. Although there will still be no information on what features yielded the photographs, you can take a peek at a few I processed using Photoshop CS5. Point your browser to this related post on my site.

Adobe Lighroom 3 Public Beta 2 Available

If you are a Lightroom user you may be curious what’s coming down the pike when the next version arrives. Well, you can try Lightroom 3 Public beta 2 to see for yourself. It has some new and improved features that you can experience first hand by using this free software. Remember, do not use it as a substitute for your regular Lightroom, install it along side the version you are using. It will not use the same image database as Lightroom 2 and you should not use any beta software for production and critical work.

Photoshop CS5 feature set, around the corner

I have been one of the beta testers for Photoshop CS5. I cannot speak of its features because of Non Disclosure Agreement I signed before joining; however, I can tell you that the wait to learn the feature set is getting shorter. In fact, Adobe has a countdown page where you can find tidbits of information. Mind you, when they announce the feature set you will not be able to go out and buy it yet. Stay tuned …

The following video, showing a very cool feature, was put on YouTube by Adobe.

Printing Workflow Presentation

If you like to review the presentation I made this evening, February 23, 2010, you will find the information on my site. I recommend that you watch the slide show one slide at a time with full effects, showing the transition from one state to the next. The PDF files are for convenience and for printing if you like. You may ask questions if you have any; if you do, please do so where the post is on my site so the questions and answers have context and accumulated information.

Topaz DeNoise, Photoshop Plugin Review

This is the second in a series of review of Topaz Labs plugins for Photoshop.  I’m not a Photoshop expert, and the tools that I use have to be easy to understand and straightforward to use.  I have used Topaz DeNoise for about a month now and have found that I can rescue images that I normally would have deleted, but saved for emotional reasons.  Now I have more confidence in using high ISO settings and long exposures, knowing that I can correct the image sensor noise these techniques generate.

You can read my full review of Topaz Denoise and see how I’ve used this tool , including a few image examples.

Topaz DeNoise is available individually or as part of a Photoshop Bundle. The price of Topaz DeNoise alone is around $80 and the complete Photoshop Bundle retails for about $180, a savings of $160 off the separately priced plugings.  Topaz Labs offers a number of upgrade paths if you choose to purchase an individual plugin, then decide to upgrade to the full Bundle.

Topaz Labs is getting ready to release a new versions of their plugins, and the company policy is to provide free upgrade to a new version to owners of the current version.  I will update my DeNoise review when the new version becomes available. Visit the Topaz Labs Web Site for more detail and to purchase your copy.  PSRI members be sure to take advantage of your Topaz Labs discount code.

Next Page »